Apple Up Despite Flat Markets and 3 Tech Titans to Watch

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has seen an increase of about $13 today, or 2.6 percent, on December 31, to $523 when the Dow and S&P 500 are almost flat.

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG): Following years of diminishing Apple’s share of the smartphone market with cheap-to-free Android phones, Google recently began trying a new tactic to win mobile. It may be referred to as “the worm strategy” due to the fact that Google is attacking Apple from the inside out. Over the most recent six months, Google started to systematically replace core, Apple-made iOS apps with Google-made iOS apps.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT): On Saturday, Microsoft published a security advisory that warns users of Internet Explorer 6, 7, and 8 that they potentially could be vulnerable to remote code execution hacks. According to the company, users of IE 9 and 10 did not face similar attacks and recommended that those who use older browsers upgrade. However, those customers who are still running Windows XP will not have the ability to upgrade to IE 9 and 10 without upgrading their OS. Microsoft’s confirmation has come following reports from various security groups that the attack sprung from the Council of Foreign Relations website, created a “watering hole attack” leaving those who visited the site through older versions of the browser open to further attack.

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC): As Apple continues to move forward to revolutionize TV and Google renews its efforts in the market, Intel seems to be prepared to launch its own TV offering. Intel has prepared to begin to market a set-top box built on its chips providing various streaming and cable programming to subscribers in selected markets, TechCrunch reports.